Saturday, 7 November 2009

East Meets West

As most of you know by now, I grew up in England and have spent my adult life in France. I was born and bred in the north, in Yorkshire, a cold and beautiful land of drystone walls, bracken and heather, and have adopted the sunny Languedoc Roussillion region in the south, theMediterranean, the garrigue and the Camargue. My husband is from Montpellier, my children too, and we all speak French, English and our own hybrid Franglais from time to time. C'est le métissage, two countries, two cultures, two languages and a richness, diversity and open-mindedness that I am pleased to offer our children.

No wonder then that I've fallen in love with these Breton "Breizh Kokeshi" dolls by French artist/painter/illustrator/writer Anh Gloux. Born in Noumea to Sino-Vietnamese and Breton parents, Anh Glouxspent her first few months of life in a boat, has sailed various vessels and directed the Museum of Fishing in Concarneau, Brittany, for 12 years. Her wooden Kokeshi dolls, originating from northern Japan, are all dressed in traditional Breton costumes, thus celebrating eastern and western traditions.

Anh has designed a wonderful series of paper dolls in a similar vein, each one wearing a traditional Breton costume.I'm sure these cut-out dolls provide hours of entertainment, teaching children dexterity, the art of paper-modelling and the beauty of traditional French costumes and customs.

The vibrant colors and folkdress is just so uplifting...I bet that little girl has so much fun playing with those dolls. I am so sick of Pokeman and that whole gang...very refreshing to see something of qualty and substance.

How magnificent. I love that we are all a little from 'somewhere else' in our heritage or in our own lives. Maybe if we keep spreading ourselves throughout the world we'll all learn more tolerance and charity for other peoples... Yes, I guess I'm an idealist but I still like the idea. Thanks for showing these, Deb - they're great :) K